The Sun. — London, England, 1809-03-22 00:00:00

SPAIN A,V.D PORTUGAL. Copies of, or Extraaii from, the Instruitions to the Corn. minders, or other 0 flicers,-of.his Majesty's Forces in Spain and Portugal, in the year ilia; together with such Corn . mun .i icatios'as have,.been received • from the said Com*. slanders, or other Officers, relating to. the execution of the said. tiltreaioni, so tar the same may not be attended with public inconvenience. Inclosure in Viscount CA3T LER LA nu's Letter to the pi Officer, commanding in Portugal, dated Aug.. iB, 1808. , List of Offit , trs who have received orders to proceed to Spdt;, and Portti,;4l. special Inatruttions Asturias, GijOn, : &c. --Major General LEITH, one Aid-de•Carup, Major Roinit, Capt. PATRICK. Calkins, Corunna, &c.—Majbr-General BROM.. RICK, one. Aid.de-Camp ; Lieutenant "Colonel PoYi.s, Captain KEN'NeDY, , Capt. CARROLL. • Brigattier,Gentlal eDECEIEN, Capt. HASSERROOK, Capt. BaOOIO.IAN, ' Capt. HEYLIGER. - Portugal, Oporto, &c.--Brigadier.-Ge4erJ SON . - TAG, Capt.IIAGAY. ,Lieutenant-Colonel TRANT, Major PttEv;:L. .4ttaeliecl to ibe Portuguese LeYy•-r-Licutenant- Colonel Sir ilo.tzett.r WiLsoN, Littatentapt-Colonel INLiPOUCIII,II., MajorSarors LIMN. COPY, OF , LETTER FROM . VISCOUNT, CASTLEIIIIAGN TO IvIAJOR-GENkRAL, LEITH. SIR, • Dcs'willpg-streer i Aug.2B, 0108. This letter will be delivered to you by Captain Lefevre;. whose talents 'as an. engineer Will - be ot much use ii accelerating t4e survey ot the military line of the A ourtas h 'and the principAitv of St. An'. dero. Tie cxacnination of the country to the East ward A , I St. 4.ndero' is. kndly - ol less pressing irn 7 • : In addition to .an exanainaion of the principal by which he endow may atitoopt i to'penetrate ise either of these provinces, *With upon the map ztp,.mtr to be limited. to t-hor mad froM Burgos by itty il us3 to Sr. Ander, and thlt 000;10 Leon to iedo, it is desirable to ascertain what the bieility is ofiaieral communication b-tvt ecu these two lines al operalion--that is, how 'far a corps in the Astir:- rice, ems move to support one in she. Montana, and vise oersa ; and !Luther; how far corps, pressed in the Asturias, by a soperior force, can fall back on Ferrol; The iticlosed will point your attention to what immedrately relates to the Asorri al in a de.. fen,ive sense. I should wish you, however, to ex tend your views to the practicability of offensive ope rations, and to state your upon the eotopara five advaiitages Oa forward movement. upon either of the lines above referred to, or whether a line more to the Eastward can be looked to. In consi dering this question, you may take it upon the tuba supposhions—lst, of 20,000, and c2dly, of 30;000 British troops being disposable for this operation.;-- you will observe the defensive view of the stabled is Ulien upon the supposition ,that only 10,000 men mat present'applicable to servterz,,in the North of Spain, svhiich twist be considered as the limit, till our operations in Portugal are .terininated. You will feel the importance, as our army will have to depend oltogoiher orlon the IrVionrevu at the country ink hick they act for moving their 911pplieti, of avoiding,. as f ar as possible, an extended hoe of ;operations. I state the embarrAssmetit to be the transport of . the' , provisions to the interior, as I can nay; no hesitation so undertaking to tricet all the %yams of the arnw Whilst un the coast. should berglad to- know what . number of tran sports may be convenieotly sheltered in the ports of Gijon and St. Ander ; and Whether cavalry can be disembarked at either place: Von will also apprize ine,,wiihoniconitnitting the Govermiterit, what he disposition at present is of the Juntas of A itntias acid St. Ander, to receive the car=ol eration of a British corps, either frir offensive or defensive porposes.— ~, You will also inform me of the state of tilt: climate. which may be-expetied in the' ensiling months-- during what period the troops can continue to ope r?te without unduly exposing their health—and what covering - they may expect to find when they can no lon4e.r keep the field—what influence the climate is likely to have oft the operations of the enc - is iOirs be expeaed that they will be compelled to , suspend operations during the' winter, or is it more likely that.thl will continue, as has been their habit in other countries,- without interruption in the field ? y. 11.1 3 ,01 communicate, as early as possible, ybur sentiments nh the points above stated, as well' as any o thers svhich you may - deem inaterial, to Sir Hew DalryniOle, or the Officer cornmanding in Portugal, as he will be instructed, under'certain circumstances, to ~t 1 •withon , t waiting for orders from home. ~ nit , asurei would you.reeernmend for ets. Bic,cay and Navarre to rise ? If you see a pro' pect of a diversiOn important being produced in the fear of the French arioicit, you Avid address r -11 Ott the subject of arms, to Sir - Hew Dal ) • and the Juntas .of ()Viedo and Cyallicia;'• 50,000 stand having, tretlO' lately forwarders to the lacier anthoritles tortne service of the Northern De» • pvti „ e , nis i t Spain and : 30,000 stand,' together vt , ith 30,000 pike.t, having been sent with Sir Ar thur Wellesley to Portugal. , Can you cootrit,•e, ay some confidential Spaniard, to opeo a communication with Genera) Palafox in Arl'agon, for the purpose of ascertaining what his , . situation and tire; and how far he could 'co operate in breaking iea Upoll tie French line of opera. l i ons on ,that, Nide, which seems to extend for not less than 400 Mikis, taking it: fccrm th 6 frontie*r See,ovia'; - and as they have to guard both the Vic toria and l'ampeluni roads, a number, of light corps of armed peasantry, I should apprehend, would either. intercept' their .convop, or catupel them to waste wilds Of their force in eseorts. ' . • haie the honour to be, &e. (Sigrted,) . CASTLBitEACii. To MoiorXrneral Leith; dre. INCLOSVRE IN VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH'S LOTTER TO bIAJOR-91SNERAI. LEITH, OF AUG, 26, 108. QUERIES. Whether, if the enemy have from 30,000 to b0,(44 at Burgos and op that line, and, before they e ngaged by an army in their front, Ahoold attack the are the Asturians capabje of defending their Prdvince without assistance? ":•si.' Whether 10,000 British, aging With the army of Asturias, And supported by the army of calflc"a vn their flank, would enable thew to resist such an attack=? 3. W-htt her a British corps,. if pressed, could fall back on Ferrol, if they had not time to re,embark at Ginn ? 4. `Whether, carrying their supplieS, artillery, horses, and some cavalry for patroles, they could fine! the means of moving their provisions from the coast by carriages of the country, in the Asturias Mid Montana ? 6. What position should the British take up for the defence of Asturias—whether central, as Oviedo, merely to. move forward to the frontier, on the move , meat of the enemy being known—or a more ad vanced position,' and what ? 6. is there more than one pray icable: road by which the enemy can attempt to penetrate into the Asturias ; and how many passes must be occupied for securing the defences of that Province ? - 7; The same query with respea to the Montana. COPY OF A LrTTER PROM VISCOUNT CAMIREAGII TO SIR HEW DALRTSIFLE. • SIR, Downing street, August 2.7, Intelligence having been received by telegraph .That Iliscay has declared war against ,the Freud, I losthay a no tine in direaing Major-General Leith to fnrnish you, hy, thu speediest conveyance; with fUll information of the state of atfairs in that quar ter,' • in order that you may judge how this most im portant diversion in the rear of the Vrench armies may bet be supported,' You will see . the expediency of keeping such part of your force as you may deem disposable in such a state, of equipment artJ preparation as may enable you to carry intu executiotvwith celerity any Ordets .you nv!y peccive from hence. You will not,. how seoniidtt this intimation as intended In. the smallest degree to turrow the discretion you now possess of . ..detachitql, without waiting Jur orders from home, such proliortiutf Of your force, and to such quarter as you May deem fur the advantage of his Majemy's -service.' .• . have the honour to be, Arc. • . . , (Sigred) • CASTLEri;AGII. To Lieut.. Gen. Sir ticw Ddlrmple, COI'Y. OF A I„C.TTEA Fl Olt VISCOUNT CASTLF4EAGII • To..NAJOII-GENERAI, 14EITH. SIR, . London, August 27, ad. I ludoie, for your information, a copy of a letter which thaye written to Sir new Dalrymple, to the substance Of which you,will pay immediate atten tion. It is unnecessary for me to impress upon you the importance of Using every possible etlint to give tef.rejt to the insurrection Biscay'., I sha3 cllc*a* vow to totivard, v, 'thou delay, Htirriltente, a sup ply of:pikes. Arius and ammunition 'the Govern :thetas olGallieia and the Asturias must now have it in their ,poWer to furnish . , from the 'very' large proYi ,sion sent within these few days frotn hence; and I trust they.will see, that in no quarter ate theylikely, at least in part, t. be more usefully employed than in creating,a force in the rear of the Fretiolearwies. I am, Ath. . • • (Signed) .L.CSTL.tttutAn . Nl:sjot-CerTtal.A.Otth, . . c o or i t I,ETTp, isnotst viscontiT C.kiknuttßAGil TO M AJOIt-GENEIt NI.. LEITH. Si a, Sept,. 14, Intelligence having been received from Caota;ll Cirroll, of the'fst instant, stating 'that Gun. Blake w 3; proceeding and actually in march with the Gal lician army to occupy the vsition of lleynoka, and, tl:at he was anxious provisions should be sent to S.nnander for the supply of his army in case of pg ccaity. I atwto, acquaint you, that the four victuallers mentioned in the margin*', have been ordered to the port. of Santander, and are conslghed • Co Mr. A.azi4 ti, Deputy. Cominissary,-Gencral,who is entrusted with the provisions, and is to deliver thorn accord ing to the orders _he Shall receive from. you ;, and if 4u: shall not, be able to communicate with you, and. receive a reiptisition froM General Blake, o( the Junta of Santander, he •is to; make a delivery of previsions-for the use of General Blake's army,.with, out waiting for your orders. Mr. Az/iotii will' report to you, and you will be good enough t have linn ftirnished with whatever "intelligence you are in. possession of re petting th e powers'of the country tor the march and support of a large army. I have thulionour to be, ~ t 4c. (Signed) , . CASTLERLAGII. To Major-General Leith, itc. P. S. In case of operations with a considerahie English foice in the North,,ot. Spain, it will .he ne cesssary, to secure alargth 'number of horse% and -mules, or other draft Cattle. With this view. Lieut. Colodel Hamilton, of the waggon train, ha* re.. received orders to proceed to - Gijon or Santander, in order to 'tinperituend the .purchase. Mr. Aziiotri,, the n4 , puty, Con'innWry, is instructed to suppt ) i - the funds for the laipicise ; and as it may he of cOn sequence that n ? time should be lost, I ani to:desire ,you will take such reparatory measures kir otturing the supply 'OOO head assyoti shall thinkrtfostad visable-; and before any tunics fit for inspection can have been .assembled, Lieutenant ,Colonel Munition will probably Arrive in' Spain. The cattle wanted are for provisions nod baggage,'as the. artillery will bring their own nurses. Iy is 'wished that this ser • vice Italy be executed quietly, KO as t 4 avoid raisiiig: expectations as tar as , possible. • *: Peggy, '22,7 tons toseph and Mary, 1 95 ditto Ann, zoo ditto Hannah, 43 ditto, COPY OP A LETTER PROK VISCOUNT C4STLEIIIIAGII TO'idA3olt - GENERA4I.IIIT.IS . , , S IR, 1)0i% rting-strot, -Sept r 17, AnS. Fourteen, thobsand pikes have been embarked, And consigned to you at Gijon.. They are destined for the use of the peasantry its the province of gti.- cay,. or elsewhere, as may be most- adva - 'A:igeoni and I am to desire you will take ,such roca,ures, for the ditttribution ci them, or tor storing: them; as, under existing circumstances, you shall consider most advantageous tor the general service. I have the henout,to be, kr% (Signed). CASTLLIMAOII, To Major. Gen. Leith, Ate. cart OP 11 "LETTER FROJkI VISCoUNT CA.S.TLEREAcit met.ron•GENBRAL nuppeamit. SCR,, Doivtlin,strect, Sept. 15, ISA I inclose for your information, extra& of an In. strullion which him been sent, by his Majesty's tang. mall& to Major-Genet:al. Leith, from, which you will observe that it' is proposA," without delay, to assemble a large corps of his Majesty's troops in the neighbourhood of Coruniu, there to be equipped.for service. As it is material . that the troops, upon their ar rival at Corunna, should be disembarked and placed in convenient and Comfortable cintonnients, whilst the necessary..equipments are colleaing, I am to. Convey to you the King's commands that you do re- : pair in person to that neighbourhood, and, in con— cert with his Majesty's civil servants, arrange 'with the persons, in authority in 'Gallicia, measures' for their rec.eption and accommodation. The strength of the corps may be estimated at about 30,000 infantry, and 5000 cavalry, and they will carry a large supply of provisions with them in vi&uallcrs, but will of•cqurse require to be supplied with cattle on their arrival. , • Sir John Moore will be direeted to send a Com missary from Portugal to superintend arrangements. Till his arrival', the Commissary attached to the 'troops under Sir DiWid Baird's orders proceeding from hence will a& in the mean time you will proceed to make ar rangements for the reception of the 'troops from hence, which maybe emaeded to sail in the course of a few days trout Falmouth. send you a mentorandm received from the Marquis of Romana with li'respeet tot he cantonments in Gallicia. But you will observe, that a much more'extensive arrangement will be necessary upon the arrival of thl troops from Portugal,' which Sir John Moore is direded to move, either in transports, or by march- . ing them through the interior;, as may seem to him most convenient. I have prevailed `upon the Marquis of Rpmana to order his corps, wititont being disembarked, to pro ceed from Cornnna to Santander, there to be incor porated., and to ad wish the armies of the Asturias and the Montana. By this arrangement, the te 7 sources of Gallicia will be more applicable to the accommodation and equipment of the British army. If, in addition to the purchases which the Deputy Commissary, Mr. A7ziotti, is diredted to make m 'the Asturias for the use 'of the British army, you crin procure a supply of horses and mules in the Qa• licias, or in the North of Portugal, it would much assist Sir John Moore .in his arrangemeMs. The Cominissary attached to Sir David Baird's corps will furnish the means of payment. The inclosed letter from the Marquis de Romans, you will be so goo4sas to deliver to the 'ollleer in command of the Spanish troops which have pro ceeded to COTLIWIR, add yin will, in concert with the .British Naval ()dicer at Corunna, arrange to-have them dispatched to. Santander without delay, order ing the Transports to return to Corunna as soon as the troops are disembarked, in case they should be wanted to bring the British troops:from Portugal. I have the honour to be, &b. (Signed) CASTLEREAGH. • To klAjor-General 13rudOck, COPY OP 'A LEITER FROU VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH Tv MAJOR-GgNE' 4 IAL - - SIR, Downing-street. Frept, 25 • hive to acknowledge the receipt of your letters • 'noted in „ the. margin, which have- been laid before ,the King. I have the satisfaClion to communicate to you his Majesty's entire approbation of the zeal, diligence, and ability with which you have hitherto executed the duties entrusted to you, and I trust you will con— dinUe to. use your utmost exertions in prosecuting itid important' objects of your mission - to a - suCcesi, la result. • Ihave to aequaint you, that his Majesty has de-; termined 16111104th assemble a large fotce in the North of Spain, under- the•ordets of Lieut.-General Sir. John Moore. A i it is not deemed adviseable that any part of this. corps shook': .be committed in Operatjuns till tire, whole can be as , .erribled and - equipped for service., it kis h et . /1 sen d the force now as:.embling at F.ilinouth, .under Sir D. Baird, In Coruntil„t here to Meet the force 'which is ordered to procekt from Portugal to compose a part of Sir .1, Moore 's army.' b A Deputym Comissary,- Mr. A zz,iit asiisted' y Colonel Hamilton, of be, Coips of Drivers - , kis been sent into the Astor:4ls, and the Principality of S.Mtander, to pinchase horses and inoles for 'the ,rlri 7 ; i kt i army; in the Of uhiclt, important sc rvic o yon to iil ri:oder el'erti.p . l4 in you r , power. The horses and multi can be forwarded in finch divisions from theoce, as may be most'eativenient to the cantonments of theßrittsli army. Feeling all the importance of , your suggestion sitith resped to strengthening the force whien now covets' the Montana, I alit happy acquaint you that the Marquis of, Romani) has consented to order his army trout Corunna, consisting of nearly !dm° asien, to be disembarked at Santander. corps is entirely composed of veteran and highly discielined soldiers, I trust its utiiity'will not be con- . fined-to its own exertion) ; but that by at) incor poration of the trained 'Peasantry in the Northern Provinces,' it • may give ininiediate solidity , to an army of much larger 'amount.. . The Marquis. propoSea immediately to triple his infantry, by forminga regiment of three battalions upon each battalion of his pre.ient . farce; and. I have assured him :that he will receive trowyon every aid in doing so. The Total want of regular force, both itt the Nsturias'andl Moltana, to,fortneven Ike basis Of any army, will, I have no doubt, render thear rival-of this valnable'eorps, a Matter of the utmost satiitaaion to thou; eotruStol with the chief authprity at those previnces ; they will fel that in tio way can their present force be so Usefully ethployed, as by being comolidated with so large a body oftegnlar Spanish, trunpa, and I s!ttluld hope, that, trout the o cruishid 'name: and -ehai hetet- of the Marquis of Re main), who has recently given so important and io tere.sting a pled,, , ,e to Spain and to the world of his devotion to-the cause of his country and of his Sove.... those provinces - will be'aoxious to place sO experienced an officer in the chief command of theit armies. 1 • - I have given. the Marquis. De Romaimassurancett. that you will concert measures with the Bi,shop . of Santander for the' reception and -aCe.ornmotbtien of his troops vipon'their arrival. They proceeded -dowo Channel yesterday With a 'fair wind for Corunna,. from which place orders will this night be sent tor Unit repairing, without Jess of time, to Santander: You !rill feel .the Importance et Is)/leg tha polio 4 without delay,. for inducing the Goveronmi of th Asturias, and that of the Montana, to•uoite. theil ar' mies with that. of the Marcinis,of,Roipano. I if, close a Letter 'on this subje& from the \';scounr Materota to his Goviattmentp which you will dd• • vier. I have the honour to be, &c. • - (Signed) CASTLEKEA6II. To Major-General Leith, &c. P. S. The 14,000 pikes, for the embarkation el which direaions have been given . , will be sent in the `course of 'a few days to Santander. They will be placed at your disposal, 'and I shall hope that some opening will present itself before,loug for turning them to account. COPY OF A LETTCII PROM VISCOUNT C:►STIAMISAGH TO lIIAJOE-GENERAL LEITH. SIR, Downing-strew, Sept.-26, 0101 f. Lam, to acquaint you,. in addition to my letter of the Lt sth inst. that as the corps under the command ot . the Marquis de Romana is nor of a provincial na ture, not' raised by any particular province; it is not intended to demand from the Province in which it may operate, its pay and ,supplies i alai is 'Majesty has graciously consented that it shall bo subsisted from the resource's of Great Britain, till on arrange• went can be made with the general Government Which may be established in Spain. •l ai» therefore to desire,that you will take t ne:tsures with hio Mi- jesty's Deputy-Commissary, for having the . cap supplied by British resource;, till the arriVal Pf • Marquis de Romana, by whom.more cletailgi - Struaions will be sent to you upon this head. ' 'three hundred horses will be wanted for.the ar-, / tillery of the Marquis. De Rptnana's co rps, and 1 ant to depire you wilt authorize. the Deputy,Conunisi ar r to transfer fdr that service' M 360'.0f the number. %Wewhichplay be purchased for his Majesty's : service. • The Deputy Commissary will be able to assist the OffiCers under • ybur command, in drawing upon' England for their pap aud allowances. I have, Sx • • ' (Signed) CArrLtotpkoit. To Major Gen. Leith, tec. the above arrangement might be pro' du&ive of great embarrassments' if drawn into pre. "dent, you will take care that it be understood AS exclusively applicable, for the reasons above speck fled, to the corps in question ; that it is , n ot to tinue above two months Worn the period of it s. . s v o al, to w b h e ioh will afford full time fo'r its being 1P, 646191 ia the general system ; and that utmost. be paid for by bills 90 the Treasury, - it being imposlible to find a suilicietw Pr,:intdesdut:phiaiellsnnoltuesti,cceed 30,0b0 men at I e e,y of silver to meet' the many clutuandS 0: 1 , 3 4q 11, a tuis moment (won our resources. .• COPY OF A LETTER PROM VISCOUNT CASTLE*III3O/4, To LIEUT.-GFNERAI. Sia.Patik SIR. . Scer. s 4; 10 . His ilajesty having determined to ai of his troops; of not less than .0,.000 infao"Y 5000 cavalry, in the North of Spain, to co- o} t l ," Le with the Spanish armies in' the expulsion of t tj " , , french .from that kingdom . , has been grgc!l,;;E -please4 to'entrust to . the .command •.. ibis. forec. • o r ees tit he Officer comturinding' MajeitY il s a fortugil dirrovii to dentch nutter par employ a corq corps of 13906 infantry, together with the King's Gerinau regitueut. of Light Dragoons) 1.150 atLisbon, and a doe proportion of artillery , t° ,, joined by a corps Of above 10,00,0 men, now assembling at Falmooth, the detail of Wbit'l you will receive herewith enclbsed. . The cavalry will he sent from WI-lee *upon the re" turn a the horse-transport; from the Tagus, solo' timerAnce ordered; and it May be e*peeld to ;irtira betbro the rest of the corps cat) be assotjtbled attl equipped to take. the field. ' .It. has been determined to assemble this force ill the North of ; Spain, as the quarter where they 0 , 1 be speedily , brought together, and that to wh ica, the exertions of liTe enemy appear at present t 0,1 ; .3 it wfl.retptire arrangemeido befortra face of.tilis magnitude can b; enabled to take the held ; sf;l as it; is not, del- 111 '5' 'advlable that itshould be par=tially committed the Enemy before•the whole ciin be asseinbled, rendered completely movable i it has been thoogll pru4sbt to send that part of this army which is lo proceed from hence, .to Corunna, father than t o di 9- entbark• any -part of it, in --else first instance), At a n t _more : advanced triards.theEttemy.. It kt ill be for you te'cOnsider on what poll . ° , - a or On tile border s of L t . , o n , the ;oree ca" inost s pOyantagcnnily!a4setnbl:Al and erviipped for,f4r vice, from.whence they May 113ve forward as c lir r Y r as circumstance's shall permit ;. and it left to Y", 13 Pantry and artillery shall be tranSported judgmtat to decide, whether -the.whole of In‘ by sea to j Corunna, or I.vbeilier prul'o li°ll be sent through Portugal to Mat destioation• l a nd cavalry. you will , of- counre direct to move hY and it the horses forib take . • artillery Can Of tllOl4°W,l route, so as to a t to-i4..0.•,th e , w b o te o.' transports being returned to Eogland, it ' Bl }rtt fruit) meal to accelerate I. t he Ova/ arrival ' hence.. . • - , •• is ' it will be necessary to concert kith the %.'"'"'„ rn d try sary-General, Mr. Erskine . , '.v ho will be attacro.. the service of your army, the b es t meow; of 4 , 66 1; for Win& an adequate supply of' horses and ow ° va y f root ,Lishorlti rendering yonr army tuovablo: and that this bid be effeaed with more dispatch, it Maybe odor to drati ,. .. your, supplies from ditresent'priit9` i "„„ P h'ch and not altogether to d e p en d noo n , ":: 130 has been considerably drained o f its resources , ' A Deputy Commissary Geijeral, equipment of Georral Illake's has bt.4.1% Oispatchedw' c . tpi 1 of ill " 41 (, One aMi di Waggon train, into the -.Asturias, to procure st--d horses anal as that country can furnish he is di;ected to report the progress of his pOrch a o s i to you. Whet) you have aseertaine:t the flambe t , thaikcattle of ditferent descriptions that You will quire for rendering you.ariny movable (w hichyoo feel . it important to restri6t within theuarroweOt coin pass consistem with the efficiency ofyour corps) , P, ) ,„ - will be enabled to regulate the purchases EPA° riecee the several Agenti;' and should you - deem sary to procure tire support of his,Majesty'SMinis" ter, Mr.. Frere, Mr. Azziotti:i fral Government to facilitate these puroh.a" s ' P, O will address yourself to him on this subject , of '• any of his Majesty's civil or military agents, now 5 4..1 who is now proceeding to the Ceu ) ; ployed in the respe=ctive Provinces•in Spain. .